Half a million previews of Windows 8 have been downloaded by developers since the software became available on Tuesday, Microsoft has announced.
Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer stated that it showed the strong developer interest in Windows 8, the re-imagining of Windows for the brave new world of fondleslabs. Built to re-conceive …

Not all developers ...

Yup, if we wait until the public can buy it, we will be behind the curve.

This preview doesn't show us much, but it got me thinking about security already: According to the dialog window, using a Live ID account shares info including passwords and browser history to other PC's that you log into.

Hopefully later Beta and RC releases will be a bit clearer on what info is being shared and how.

Re: 11:56

Yes, but they normally get as far as loading the first screen of the first section of the installer... I did get it working in the end, thanks to the help shown here. It runs fine in IDE mode, but SATA crashes it out. Given that the vast majority of the drives these days are SATA, that's still not encouraging.

Win8 install in VM

I downloaded the Developer Preview x64 version.

It will not install in VMWare Workstation -- from what I could see it appears to try to use an instruction that either is not implemented or is not properly implemented in the virtual cpu. I admit I may be way off base... VMWare is working on an update.

However, it loads and runs fine in Oracle VirtualBox. It's a bit glitchy, the UI hangs for a few seconds occasionally. I haven't yet determined if this is the fault of VirtualBox or the fact this is a pre-beta version of Windows 8 intended for developers.

"The OS should be able to run thinner, "

but how thin?

Thing must run Win32 apps, x86 ones. At least one edition should do, absolutely. I can't force a 5M client database owner to code a "stylish" silverlight/net/whatever client as they haven't touched their app since 2004. Why should they? It is java application dating back to 1.4 days and no matter trolls say, it still works fine, even better each java update.

From here...

@Tarquin

Less bloat

I'd like not to have to use up 24Gb of disk for several copies of the operating system, before I install any software. An OS is just that, but so much other "stuff" has been added to the core that it can hardly be called thin.

Fondleslabs maybe...

Absolutely!

The transition between the touch interface and the traditional desktop feels both random and jarring. Some apps open in touch, some open in traditional, and there's sod all indication which is which until you click.

And trying to use Metro with a mouse is just painful. You can't hold and drag from what I can tell - manual scrollbars? Are you kidding me? I hope that gets sorted.

At least you can revert it and use the traditional desktop, which feels...well...exactly like Windows 7.

Had the same gripe with scroll bars (see below)

But cracked it - use the scroll wheel Greg!

And for my next trick I worked out how to recover unpinned tiles - and discovered a previously unknown but extremely useful feature. Ok it might not be unknown to many but I still haven't watched the BUILD videos....

Take note of recent developments please

"...ARM-based systems expected to form the majority of Windows tablets."

Given the roadmaps put forward by both AMD and Intel, I find it hard to believe that by the end of 2012 such an expectation will be fulfilled. Now that application compatibility is an issue, who will make ARM-based Windows 8 tablets if they have x86-based options? Hard to sell someone on 25% better battery life when their apps won't run...

I think ARM-based tablets will be killed off UNLESS they are much much cheaper.

Note that this is mostly a psychological argument: people associate Windows with backwards compatibility, not novel uses or experiences, even if Windows 8 may very well offer one.

Also, you people really expected to download this and run it from VirtualBox? WOW

Modi operandi

Who hasn't seen jarring discrepancies between windows versions. Arm support will help get them more penetration into tablets and phones. Once they have the volume they can then force the market. The interesting play is going to be about android, and the licensing they're extorting from manufacturers.

Optional

I think that I am going to wait until there's a stable beta available..........

...............and then dual-boot it on our home-office rig. In the meantime I noticed a *very* extensive preview of this build on a (non-touch) laptop at Engadget. Very interesting and still very obviously a work in progress.

Re: Honestly

Perhaps I should call this Re: Honesty.

@CyberCod: your claim to "decided to get out of IT" is grandstanding.

Your previous post on 18th September at 02:01 states you use Linux, then before that on 10th September at 10:11 you discuss the virtues of Ubuntu, and on the same date and time in a discussion over the recent release of Oneiric Ocelot, you declare that you "do this for a living".

I have no problem with people making genuine comments about the deficiencies of any OS. However, statements that suggest these deficiencies are why they have left the industry when clearly they are very much in the industry seriously undermines the credibility of that comment.

Have the 64-bit + Dev tools dual booted with Win7 on my Presario

Had to create the Bootable USB on my Win7 64 media PC to get the right bootsect.exe but after that it installed fine.

The Good;

Desktop interface is very snappy and after using Office 2007 for 6 months I found Explorer far more user-friendly than Win7's

Had zero issues with Drivers - all my external devices present and correct and even Audio and Wireless both worked first time!

The Bad;

As pointed out in a previous post the Metro interface isn't much fun with a mouse. Why it just can't scroll when you reach the screen edge is anybody's guess

Control Panel have been completely revamped AGAIN which means learning where everything is from scatch - though to be fair it doesn't seem as deliberately obtuse as Win7

The Fugly

The switching from Desktop to Metro when clicking 'Start' is jarring - as is the inability to actually close programs from the Metro interface. I know this second one is due to the Metro being aimed at mobile devices but after using Windows for 15 years it seems counterintuitive.

Shutting the thing down requires first to log off - there probably is a shortcut or an option somewhere to enable this but I haven't found it yet!

All in all I was quiet impressed. I took an instant dislike to full screen IE but my gut tells me I was being unfair so I won't list that as a thumbs-down - and I am very much looking forward to purchasing a low-end tablet to have a stab at writing some mobile apps!